Calculating the additional Double Orphan Pension (DOP) component 007-06010030

The DOP additional component is the difference between the carer's legislative rate of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A for the DOP child and the legislative rate of FTB Part A received for the DOP child immediately before they became an orphan.

The DOP additional component is not payable where FTB Part A has been cancelled because the child receives a payment under a prescribed educational scheme.

All assessments for the DOP additional component are carried out by the Bereavement/Double Orphan Pension Helpdesk. Customers can call the DOP Helpdesk for assistance.

In the case of a shared care child, the additional component of DOP is the difference between applying the shared care percentage to the legislative rate of FTB Part A previously received for the child and applying the shared care percentage to the current carer's legislative rate of FTB Part A.

DOP claimants who have shared care of 35% or more will be assessed under the Family Assistance shared care rules. Customers who have actual care of a child for less than 35% of the time are not entitled to either the basic or additional component of DOP. Where the customer has actual care of a child for 14-34% of the time, they will be assessed for ancillary benefits.